HERSHEY (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett, his wife and former Gov. Tom Ridge are among the mourners paying last respects to former Gov. George Leader.

The memorial service for Leader got under way Thursday morning at Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey.

Leader was 95 when he died a week ago following a brief illness.

The Democrat served one term as Pennsylvania governor from 1955 to 1959.

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He fought to rid the state government of patronage jobs and make special education a requirement in Pennsylvania schools. After leaving office, he kept his hand in politics and advocated for prison reform while building a successful business career.

Leader was Pennsylvania’s second-youngest governor, taking office at the age of 37.